Roster Reveal
The University of North Carolina Tar Heels have unveiled their 2026‑27 men’s basketball roster, a mix of five returning lettermen and a wave of 11 newcomers that includes transfers, freshmen and an unprecedented international presence.
Seniors Jarin Stevenson, Jaydon Young and Evan Smith, together with junior John Holbrook and sophomore Isaiah Denis, form the core that helped the team finish last season 24‑9 and earn a No. 6 seed in the NCAA South Region.
Head coach Michael Malone, in his first year at the helm, brought in a diverse group of transfers such as Angelo Brizzi from Buffalo, Cameron Fens from South Dakota, Terrence Brown from Utah, as well as sophomores Matt Able (NC State), Neo Avdalas (Virginia Tech) and Cade Bennerman (Northwestern).
Among the new faces, Alexandros Samodurov, a junior from Panathinaikos in Athens, becomes the first Greek player ever to wear a Tar Heels jersey, while Sayon Keita, a Mali native who previously starred for U18 FC Barcelona, joins as only the second African player in school history after the late Makhtar Ndiaye.
The freshman class features Maximo Adams of Los Angeles, Malloy Smith from Encino, California, and Kevin Thomas of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, adding depth and future prospects.
The roster also marks a milestone in jersey tradition: Isaiah Denis will switch from No. 5 to No. 2, John Holbrook will don the historic No. 99, and Malloy Smith becomes the third member of his family to wear No. 30.
International representation continues to grow, with the total number of Tar Heels who have played abroad now standing at 18, including the first Greek and the latest African talents.
Preseason Opener
Carolina’s preseason schedule opens on October 9 when the team faces Southern California at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, setting the stage for a highly anticipated debut.